Top Ten Guns for Survival

Number 10 – Smith & Wesson Model 29 in 44 Rem Mag

At first glance, a 44 magnum revolver may seem a little odd for a survival gun, but let us explain. Say you’re out walking the woods with the number one gun on a this top 10 best guns for survival list. What do you do if you happen across a bear or an angry wild boar? A rimfire rifle isn’t going to be much help, and it would be impractical to carry more than one long arm if you’re out for a long hike. In comes the 44 magnum. If Smoky the Bear, or more likely, Smoky’s angry mama, gives you any problems out in the woods, ask her if she feels lucky. Dirty Harry would be proud.

Number 9 – Bolt Action .30-06 (Savage, Tikka, Remington, Winchester, etc.)

The debate on the best all-around hunting cartridge is as old as hunting cartridges themselves. That said, the good old .30-06 is powerful enough for anything you will find in North America. More importantly, it’s probably one of the most ubiquitous cartridges as well. If you need to hunt to survive, you need ammunition to hunt. Whether you’re surviving in Mississippi or Maine, you should be able to find some .30-06 ammunition lying around.

Number 8 – 1911 (Colt, Springfield Armory, Kimber, etc.)

If it was a good enough handgun for WWII, it’ll be a good enough handgun for WWIII. It’s a powerful pistol in a common cartridge and parts are easy to find. There’s an entire generation of men who can field strip these in their sleep. It might not hold as many rounds as a more modern sidearm and the reliability is up for debate, but it could be easier to conceal depending on your personal preferences.

Number 7 – AK47

We almost don’t need to go into why an AK47 makes a great survival gun. People have been surviving with it all across the world for over half a century now. No matter the situation, they keep on firing. Not to mention, it’s a pretty hefty round. The only real downsides to the venerable AK47 are that they aren’t as accurate as the AR-15, and if you’re in the USA, it may be a little harder to come by ammo for it than some of the other choices on this list.

Number 6 – Marlin 336/1985 in 30/30

Here is another hunting rifle. Where this one falls on the list largely depends on where you live and what type of hunting you would need to do. If you’re in the Southeast, you’ll likely be walking through some thick woods at one point or another in search of deer. If you’re walking long distances and your shots will be 50 yards or so, you don’t want to be lugging some heavy scoped rifle around. The 30/30 is light and handy and is plenty for Bambi. Throw it on a sling and hike for miles if you need to. Ask just about any old-timer and they’ll tell you that the 30/30 has taken more deer than any other cartridge.

Number 5 – Bolt Action – .308 (Remington, Savage)

Much like the 30-06 at Number 9, the 308 is one of the most common cartridges used by hunters today. The reason we put the 308 at five and the 30-06 at nine has to do with the fact that the .308 has far more data available relating to ammunition and ballistics. It doesn’t shoot as flat as a .270 or pack as much punch as a 30-06, but it’s consistent and you can find all kinds of target ammo for it. If you need a sniper setup, a .308 is what you want. In fact, it’s still commonly used as a sniper round by military and police.

Number 4 – 12 Gauge Shotgun (Remington, Mossberg)

Birds, rabbits, deer, zombies - you name it, a 12 gauge can handle it. A simple pump action shotgun is reliable and versatile. Whether you’re in a survival situation or not, every gun enthusiast should own one. They’re great for protecting your home and your loved ones. You can take down a threat without sending bullets through your walls. Load them with birdshot for birds or buckshot for bad guys.

Number 3 – Glock G19 - 9mm

The 9mm is the most common handgun caliber for police for good reason, and the G19 is a perfect example of a durable, utilitarian handgun. You can leave these things in water for weeks, throw them out of planes, run them over with tanks, and they’ll just keep working. The default magazine holds 15 rounds, but you can buy additional mags that hold many more.

Number 2 – AR15 (Colt, Armalite, Bushmaster, etc.)

The AR15 is hard to beat for a self-defense rifle. The .223 is a common round and AR-15 parts are interchangeable. The AR15 is accurate, lethal, and semi-automatic. Parts and magazines are cheap and easy to find, and you can carry a lot more .223 ammo on you than .308 or .30-06. The AR-15 excels as a survival rifle because it’s based on the M16 used by the U.S. Military. It’s lightweight and easy to maneuver. It’s great for clearing a building or for defending against a group of attackers. AR15 enthusiasts are in no short supply, so information on buying, shooting, accessorizing, and building them can be found all over the internet and elsewhere.

Number 1 – Ruger 10/22

Ammunition is cheap and ultra-portable. You can store a lifetime supply in a couple of shoe boxes. The Ruger 10/22, in particular, is reliable and accurate. It’s also cheap and parts are easy to come by. In a true survival situation, food is going to be in short supply and pretty high on the priority list. You aren’t going to take a moose or a deer with one, but if it’s rabbit or squirrel you’re after, there’s no better choice.

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